Push button drape cord operator



March 3, 1964 C, E, MALONE ETAL 3,123,182

PUSH BUTTON DRAPE CORD OPERATOR Filed May 16, 1962 urli/ERM 1 CARL EIY-IAILTDRS SIDNEY L. POLACK FIG-.5 www@ A Patented Mar. 3, 19643,123,182 PUSH BUTTON DRAPE CORD OPERATOR Carl E. Malone, 2281 SW. 33rdWay, and Sidney L.

Polack, 3600 NE. 24th St., both of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Filed May 16, 1962, Ser. No. 195,274 4 Claims. (Cl. 18S-65.1)

This invention relates to an operating device for the cords ofdraperies, curtains or similar articles, or other articles which employflexible pull cords for their operation.

lt is an object of the invention to provide a simple and effectivedevice for opening and closing standard draw drapes Without having tohandle or touch the operating cords, thus completely eliminating thesoiling and consequent damage to the cords as a result of their constanthandling.

It is an object of the invention to eliminate the guess- Work nowinvolved in selecting the proper cord for opening and closing thedrapes, by providing clearly marked push-buttons which are selectivelydepressed, and the device then drawn down, to thus positively open orclose the drapes.

yIt is an object of the invention to provide a device of this characterwhich can be easily installed by the housewife without the possibilityof installation error and without requiring complicated instructions.

It is an object of the invention to provide a device of this kind whichwill prevent wear and tear on the cords since a positive grippingengagement therewith is obtained Without the use of sharp or cuttingteeth.

It is an object of the invention to provide a device 'of this kind whichwill have a minimum of working parts; which will be inexpensive tomanufacture; which will be completely rust-proof and wln'ch will be veryeffective for its intended purpose.

vengagement with the cords to hold the casing against unintentionalshift along the length of the cords while permitting manual positioningof the casing at any desired point along the cords to therebyconveniently locate the casing out of the reach of children, and inwhich position the casing will remain even though the cords which extendthrough it are pulled up or down. The invention further contemplates theuse of plainly-designated cord clamping means, such as push-buttons, bythe use of which one or the other of the cords can be gripped and causedto be moved longitudinally on movement of the casing to thereby open orclose the drapes.

With these and other objects to be hereinafter set forth in view, wehave devised the arrangement of parts to be described and moreparticularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

'In the accompanying drawing, wherein an embodiment of the invention isdisclosed,

FIG. l is a perspective view of drapes or curtains having operatingcords to which the improved operating device is applied;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the operating device;

illustrative FIG. 3 is a front elevational View of the device with thecover of its casing removed to disclose the operating parts, the viewbeing taken on the line 3 3 of FIG. 2, looking in the direction of thearrows;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view, taken substantially on the line 4 4 of FIG.3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view, taken substantially on the line 5-5 of FIG.2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 6 is a detail View, showing one of the guide pulleys and thetension roller which co-operates with the same; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view, taken substantially on the lin'e 7-7 of FIG.3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawing, 1 and 2 indicate curtains or drapes adapted tobe moved toward one another to closed position, or moved apart to openposition by a known arrangement of a draw cord generally indicated at 3.The cord extends around a roller or pulley 4 so that it provides for thetwo cord lengths indicated respectively at 5 and 6. The cord lengthshown at 5 may be considered as the drapery-opening cord so that a pullimposed upon it will separate or open the drapes, While the cord lengthshown at 6 may be considered as the drapery-closing cord effective tobring the drapes toward "one another to the closed positionsubstantially as shown in FIG. l, when the latter cord length is pulled.

The improved operating device includes a casing generally indicated at7, the same, in the form shown being substantially rectangular and beingprovided with a rear wall 8 and a side wall 9 extending around itsperimeter. Provided in the opposite end portions of the side wall 9 areslots 10 and 11 through which the cords 5 and 6 respectively pass andwhich cords extend through the interior of the casing 7. The casing 7 isof relatively ilat and compact form and the same may, for lightness andease of manufacture, be preferably composed of a suitable plasticmaterial.

Formed on the back wall 8 of the casing and projecting forwardlytherefrom, is a stud 12 on which a guide pulley 13 is rotativelymounted. Adjacent to the opposite end of the casing is a similar stud 14on which a guide pulley 15, similar to that shown at 13, is rotativelymounted. The two cord lengths 5 and 6, which extend in substantiallyparallel relationship through the casing 7, are held in contact with theguide pulleys 13 and 15 by means of tension rollers to be now described.

The cord length 5 is held in the groove of the guide pulley 13 by meansof a tension roller 16 which is biased toward the guide pulley 13 bymeans of a torsion spring l17 which has one end engaging a pin 1Sprojecting from an arm 19 on which the roller 16 is rotatively mounted.The arm 19 is pivoted on a stud 20 projecting forwardly from the rearwall 8. 'Ihe second end of the spring 17 engages against the side Wall 9of the casing.

Adjacent to the opposite end of the casing, the cord length 5 is heldagainst the guide pulley 15 and in the groove thereof, by means of atensionroller 21, rotative on an arm 22, pivoted on stud 23 formed onthe rear wall l8 of the casing. Spring 24, having one end engaging thepin 25 on the arm 2.2 biases the roller toward the guide pulley 15'.

The cord length 6 is held in a similar manner against the guide pulleysby the tension rollers indicated respectively' at 26 and 27. Roller 26is rotatively mounted on an arm 28, pivoted on the stud 29 and biasedtoward guide pulley 13 by means of a torsional spring 30', Vwhile roller27 is rotative on the arm 31, pivoted on the stud 32` and biased towardthe guide pulley i by means of the torsional spring 33.

Provided in the center of the casing 7 and projecting forwardly from therear well 8 thereof, is a stationary block 34, rwhich may be formedintegrally with said rear wall. T-he block 34 is provided with acentral, internallythreaded holes 35 for the reception of acover-fastening screw 5d employed for securing a cover plate 36 over theopen side of the casing 7, -as clearly shown in FIG. 4. In each of itsopposite sides the block 3d is formed with a recess or concavity 37, thesurface of each of said cavities being roughened, serrated or knurled asshown in FIG. 3 vfor frictional gripping engagement with either the cordlength 5 or 6 as selectively desired.

Slidable through a guide passage '38 in the side wall 9 of the casing isa push-button 39, which has `a shank 40 formed with a closed-end slot 4lwithin which a guide pin i2 is coniined and which limits the slidingmovement of the push-button and also prevents its detachment from thecasing. The inner end 49 of the shank 49 is of arcuate for-m to conformto the shape of the adjacent cavity 37 in the block 34. The arcuate end49 is roughcned or serrated to provide a gripping surface.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that when the push-button 39 ispressed inwardly and is held in such depressed condition, the cordlength 5 will be firmly gripped between the end '49 of the push-buttonand the adjacent cavity 37 so that when the casing is then pulleddownwardly, a pull will be exerted on the cord length 5 and the drapeswill be moved to a separated or open position.

Located in the lside ywall 9 at a point opposite to the push-button 39,is a similar push-button 43, slidable in guide passage 44, and withinthe limits defined by the slot 45 within which the pin 46l is located.Push-button 43 has an arcuate, roughened or serrated inner end 47co-operating wit-h the `adjacent concavity 37 in the stationary block 34in gripping er clamping the cord length 6 on the inward depression `ofthe push-button 43. This arrangement is such that when the push-button43 is pressed inwardly, it will cause the cord length 6 to be grippedbetween it and the `adjacent concavity 37, and while the cord length 6is so gripped and the casing is moved downwardly, a pull will be exertedon the cord length 6 to draw the drapes toward one another or to theclosed position substantially as shown in FIG. 1.

From the foregoing, the operation of the described device will bereadily understood. In applying the device to the conventional draw-cordarrangement, the cover 36 is removed by the withdrawal of the single,central fastening screw 50, and the cord lengths 5 and 6` are theninserted within the casing by entering them through the slots and y11 todispose the cord lengths against the sides lof the guide pulleys 13 and`15 substantially as shown in FIG, 3 and into the grooves in thepulleys. This is facilitated by holding the tension rollers lr6, 2, 26and 27 away from the guide pulleys, as indicated in dotted lines in FIG.6, permitting the cords to read-ily enter the peripheral grooves in theguide pulleys.

A feature of the present device is that it can be arranged to be set inany selected position along the length of the cords, such as up out ofthe reach of children, where it will remain undisturbed even though thecords on which it is attached are pulled up or down. As a result, thedevice will always remain at the selected position and ready for usewithout the need `for groping or searching for it.

The two cord lengths 5 and 6 are really one length of cord so thatpulling on one of the cord lengths produces an exact pull on the otherlength but in the opposite direction. Thus, it will be apparent thatsince the cord lengths passing through the device are held in constanttension between the guide pulleys and the tension rollers, any movementof the cords in any direction will merely produce an independentIrotation of both the guide pulleys and tension rollers vwithoutactually moving the device itself which seems to float `without shiftingits position. Since there is independent and #constant tension betweenthe guide pulleys and the tension rollers, the device may be moved up ordown along the cords and automatically held in the selected position.

The opening or closing of the drapes is accomplished by grasping thedevice and pushing in or depressing the desired, clearly markedpush-button (39 to open and 43 to close the drapes). While holding theselected button firmly depressed, the `device is then drawn downwardly,thus exerting a pull on the gripped cord length to either open or closethe drapes. At the end of the required downward pull `of the cordlength, the button is released and the device can then be slid upwardlyalong the cord lengths to position it conveniently for the next stroke.The procedure just described is repeated until the drapes are opened orclosed to the desired degree.

Having thus described a single embodiment, it is obvious that theinvention is not restricted thereto, but is broad enough to cover allstructures coming within the scope of the annexed claims.

What we claim is:

1. An operator for the cords of curtains, drapes and the likecomprising, a casing containing a pair of spacedapart pulleys, tensionrollers contained in the casing and spring-biased to maintain a pair ofparallel cord lengths in engagement with the pulleys, the casing beingslidable yon the cord lengths, a stationary element within the casingbetween the cord lengths, and inwardly-movable push button grippingmembers respectively located on opposite sides of the stationary elementfor selective inward depression to grip one or the other of the cordlengths between the depressed gripping member `and the stationaryelement so that a pull exerted on the casing while one of the cordlengths is so gripped will cause said gripped cord length to belongitudinally shifted.

2. An operator for drapery cords and the like cornprising, 'a casing, apair of drapery cords extending therethrough, guide pulleys in thecasing and against which said cords are held, tension rollers forholding the cords against the pulleys, a block `disposed centrally inthe casing, push-buttons at the opposite sides of the block, the cordsbeing disposed between the push-buttons and the block, one of saidpush-buttons being eiective on its inward depression to grip one of thecords between it and the block, and the other pushabutton beingeffective t0 grip the other cord between it and the block when saidother push-button is depressed.

3. An operator for drapery cords and the like cornprising, a casingthrough which a pair of substantially' parallel cord lengths pass, aplurality of guide pulleys located within the casing and lagainst whichthe cord lengths are held, a spring-biased tension roller vfor holdingthe cords against each pulley but permitting sliding movements of thecasing along the cord lengths, a lixed block in the casing between thecord lengths, the opposite sides of the block being :recessed androughened, the opposite sides of the casing having inwardly-depressiblebuttons provided with arcuately-shaped roughened inner ends, the cordlengths passing between the recessed sides of the fixed block and theinner ends or the buttons, whereby manually-applied pressure on eitherof the buttons causes the adjacent cord length to be gripped between theroughened end `of such button and one of the recesses in the block sothat `a downward pull on the casing will then cause the gripped cordlength to be downwardly moved in company -with the casing.

4. An operator for the cords of curtains, drapes and the likecomprising, a casing containing a pair of spacedapart pulleys, a pair ofspring-biased tension rollers located adjacent to each pulley, a pair ofparallel cord engths extending through the casing and passing between4the pulleys and the adjacent rol-1ers, an elongated, stationary blocklocated between the pulleys and situated centrally of -the casing, the`opposite sides of the block having roughened recesses, the cord lengthsrespectively passing along opposite sides of the block adjacent to saidrecesses, a slidable push-button projecting outwardly' from each ysideof the casing, each push button having an larcuately-shaped inner endconforming substantially to one of the recesses in the block, the cordlengths extending 10 between the ends of the push buttons and theadjacent recesses wherein a push exerted on either of the push buttonswill cause it to grip one of the cords disposed between it and theadjacent recess.

References Cited in the l: of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 115,022Brown May 23, 1871 299,967 Davis June 10, 1884 1,498,048 Lee lune 17,1924 3,050,803 Hulterstrum Aug. 28, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 567,967 ItalyOct. 17, 1957 OTHER REFERENCES Schoenberg, Abstract of applicationSerial Number 591,049, published July 4, 1950, vol. 636', O,G. 366.

1. AN OPERATOR FOR THE CORDS OF CURTAINS, DRAPES AND THE LIKECOMPRISING, A CASING CONTAINING A PAIR OF SPACEDAPART PULLEYS, TENSIONROLLERS CONTAINED IN THE CASING AND SPRING-BIASED TO MAINTAIN A PAIR OFPARALLEL CORD LENGTHS IN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE PULLEYS, THE CASING BEINGSLIDABLE ON THE CORD LENGTHS, A STATIONARY ELEMENT WITHIN THE CASINGBETWEEN THE CORD LENGTHS, AND INWARDLY-MOVABLE PUSH BUTTON GRIPPINGMEMBERS RESPECTIVELY LOCATED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE STATIONARY ELEMENTFOR SELECTIVE INWARD DEPRESSION TO GRIP ONE OR THE OTHER OF THE CORDLENGTHS BETWEEN THE DEPRESSED GRIPPING MEMBER AND THE STATIONARY ELEMENTSO THAT A PULL EXERTED ON THE CASING WHILE ONE OF THE CORD LENGTHS IS SOGRIPPED WILL CAUSE SAID GRIPPED CORD LENGTH TO BE LONGITUDINALLY SHIFED.